Henry the Lion and his lion

It's hardly surprising that the lion is the emblem of the House of Braunschweig. The once gilded bronze lion statue dating from 1166 was erected by Henry the Lion as a symbol of his power and jurisdiction. A masterpiece of Romanesque sculpture, most likely cast in Braunschweig, it was the first free-standing monument north of the Alps. The original can be seen at Dankwarderode castle. The one on castle square is a full-size replica.

Architecture to smile about: the Happy Rizzi House

The Happy Rizzi House is located at the edge of the historical Magni quarter and was designed by the internationally acclaimed New York artist James Rizzi. It was built in two years on the initiative of gallery owner Olaf Jaeschke and architect Konrad Kloster. The brightly coloured, cartoonish towers serve as a three-dimensional walk-in sculpture. Today the building is used as offices and unfortunately is not open to the public. But it's certainly worth a look.

As good as old: the new Residenz Palace

Braunschweig's Residenz palace was badly damaged during the Second World War and completely pulled down in 1960. In 2007, 47 years after its demolition, the facades of the palace were rebuilt using more than 600 original pieces. The Guelph palace was reconstructed in its original location with the help of historical plans and photos. The portico of the Ducal Palace features Brunonia, the town’s goddess, in a chariot drawn by four horses. This is the biggest quadriga in Europe, a replica of the original that used to adorn the old palace.

Sounds good: the Musical Instrument Collection

It has exceptional examples of violins, mandolins, guitars, harps and, in particular, keyboard instruments that showcase the piano-making traditions of the Braunschweig region. Wind instruments such as cornets, horns, trumpets, flutes and clarinets round off the collection, which also includes a flute that once belonged to the Prussian King Frederick II, Louis Spohr's childhood violin, a Steinway square piano (1835) and a fortepiano formerly owned by the famous pianist Clara Schumann.

Herzog August Library, Wolfenbüttel

With its extensive programme of diverse events, the Herzog August Library is not just for students and researchers.

Exhibitions, concerts, readings and talks are regularly held here. The Herzog August Library in Wolfenbüttel near Braunschweig is not only a library and research centre for the Middle Ages and early modern period, it also houses a museum that sheds light on the history of the library and its collections.